You Asked....Part 3

What are the skills and values that require socializing? How can I be sure my child is getting enough help with developing those skills and values?

The issue of socialization usually comes up in many conversations about the pros and cons of homeschool. Many opponents of homeschooling use socialization as the primary argument against homeschooling. However, I personally find the socialization issue to be a strong argument FOR homeschooling. 

Socialization is the ability to behave in such a way that is acceptable to society. In order to do this our children must be exposed to a variety of experiences and a broad array of relationships with people of all ages. In other words, they need to be exposed to the real world. In a traditional school setting kids spend 180 days a year in a classroom with other children of the same age and mostly the same maturity and ability levels. These years are not at all representative of the real world. In fact, at no other time in a person's life will their daily interactions with people be limited to 25-30 other people of the same age. A classroom setting also severely limits a child's exposure to real world experiences. The cost and logistics of taking field trips make frequent outings impossible. As a result, most of the learning takes place within the confines of a classroom instead of through hands-on, engaging activities. 

Homeschooled children, on the other hand, have more opportunities to experience real world encounters. Regular participation in homeschool groups, which are now located in nearly every community, provides opportunities for interaction with other children. Most of these events include children of all ages as well as their parents and, often, grandparents. As a result, the children learn to relate to old, young, and in between in all types of settings. To build compassion and generosity in our children, homeschool groups often participate in service projects, in which the children find ways to give to their community or even needy groups around the world. Other opportunities include more educational field trips which allow for hands-on learning, academic competitions such as spelling bees, holiday parties, recognition of achievements, and various projects such as newsletters and yearbooks that require teamwork. 

It is through this broad array of life experiences, and under the guidance of loving parents and other adults in our their lives,  that our children will develop the skills and values that allow them to be productive and valuable members of society. 

A Kite Tale

It all started because the wind was blowing. In need of a little fresh air and a break from school work, Gavin walked out to the front yard. While out there he noticed the breeze, which, he later admitted to me, caused in him a 'desire to fly something'. Who can deny that urge?

He knew from experience what a basic kite looked like and he knew it needed to be lightweight. So he set to work.


His first attempt included a piece of construction paper, tape, and plastic straws. The end result was flimsy. It couldn't catch the wind and seemed destined to be earth bound.

For his second attempt he tried using a piece of plastic bag for the basis of his kite. The idea had merit, however it was far too small to compensate for the heavy twine he was trying to use (for lack of better materials around the house). It, too, was not meant to leave the ground.

Sometime during the attempts at flying the second kite Gavin's dad came home from work. The two of them set to plundering in the garage for better stuff to work with. Their finds included a more durable plastic bag and a bamboo pole. The result, a Delta shaped FedEx kite.


It had more promise than the other kites, but still would not fly. The guys weren't ready to give up quite yet though, and now the other two kids are wanting their very own kites to fly too!



So that is how we ended up with store-bought kites at LeFleur's Bluff State park today. We brought along the homemade FedEx kite, but due to a tragic accident it was broken before we even got out in the field. Gavin's store-bought kite took a nose dive right into a tree within 5 minutes of its maiden flight.


We were not deterred in our fun, however. We still had three kites to fly. Two of them flew beautifully. One of them, a pteradactyl kite, had more ups and downs than the stock market has lately.

All this because the breeze gave Gavin a 'desire to fly something!"

Gardening

Gavin's garden is still awaiting it's seeds, which will go in the ground in a week or so. My grandmother's husband, we call him Papa Leon, plants by the moon and his advice was to put the seeds in the ground on April 2. Ben's seeds, however, are already in the soil. He received a really neat garden lab kit for his birthday. The design of the container allows for viewing the roots as they grow down in the soil, so kids can see not only what happens on top of the soil, but underneath too! He planted radishes, carrots, and onion so there should be lots of interesting underground happenings!

Luci Loves the Library!

Going to the library is to Luci, what a trip to FAO Schwartz Toy Store is to most kids. She absolutely adores going to the library and choosing books to bring home and read. On our last trip to the library just as we were about to leave she spotted a book with a lot of pink on the cover (Her favorite color), and a little girl pouring tea. "A tea party book, Mom!" she cried. "Can I get that one too?" We did. It wasn't until we were home that I realized she'd chosen a book by none other than Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. Mother of two princesses! How exciting! The book is really cute, a little girl has to review her manners as she prepares to have tea with the queen. Luci has already asked when we can go back and get more books written by the mother of two princesses.

Sonlight in the Sunlight

The boys love to be outside this time of year, so it's not a surprise to find them sitting outside in the folding chairs with their Sonlight readers. What IS a surprise, however, is that after three years of Sonlight readers and read-alouds we are still continually impressed with the selection of books! I could never have put together such a wonderful selection of literature for my kids and I'm grateful to Sonlight for the amazing curriculum they've put together!

Nature Studies

The signs are all here.

Seventy degree days.

White blooms on the bradford pear tree.

Flowering weeds decorate the lawns.

And Green. Green leaves. Green grass. Even the light has a green tint.

Spring is here, and for my kids that means being outdoors. The first few days of spring have already brought a number of opportunities for nature study.

One day last week during a break from school work the kids migrated to the front yard. I found them huddled up on the front porch together studying a moth. Getting covered in pollen as I crouched between the shrubs was a small price to pay to get this shot!

A day or two later the boys were checking out the ditch in our neighborhood. We call it a ditch..but it's actually a cement channel that runs through the subdivision to drain off rainwater. In the spring and early part of summer the channel is filled with a few inches of water and an abundance of critters like crawfish, turtles, and frogs. An exploration early in the day produced this small turtle, which we guessed might be an alligator snapping turtle.



Later in the day, we found this one.



Much bigger! And based on the jagged outline of his shell and we were able to confirm it was indeed an alligator snapping turtle! Probably the Big Daddy to our smaller find early in the day.

Luci's outdoor finds don't quite fit the critter category. She spends a lot of her outdoor time picking weeds --er, flowers-- for momma and daddy. Not a day hardly goes by that she's not bringing one or both of us a fistful of "flowers".

Bones: Interview with Gavin

What have you been studying in science?

The body

The human body?

Yes

What are you learning about the human body?

The bones, the skin, the eyes, the ears, and the joints.

Are you doing anything interesting to learn about these?

Yes, The Body Book. It is a book with a bunch of cutting and pasting. It will make you eternally hate cutting and pasting. You will never want to cut or glue ever again.

Are you learning things though?

It is teaching me how the ears, eyes, and so forth work.

So, is it worth all of the work in the end?

Nah. Not really.

What's been your favorite cut and paste project from the Body Book?

Jonly Bonly

Why do you call him Jonly Bonly?

We made him and we tossed around a few names for him. Then Ben all of a sudden exclaimed "Jonly Bonly from Boldlygo!". And so it is named Jonly Bonly.

Can you explain who Jonly Bonly is?

If you want to know who Jonly Bonly is go to YouTube and type in Henry Cho. He is a comedian from TN, but he is Korean.

You Asked....Part 2

How can I tell what the best curriculum is?

Homeschooling parents today have no shortage of options when it comes to curriculum choices. Catalogs full of options flood homeschool family mailboxes in the spring and summer. One popular company even has a catalog that competes with the phone book in size. While this abundance in choices is a great thing it can also be a daunting experience to be faced with so many options. Sonlight, Rainbow Resource, and CBD are great places to start building a homeschool catalog collection.

The homeschool community can be an immeasurable source of help. Both online and in local support groups you will find homeschool parents willing to tell you all about their favorite and least favorite curriculum. The important thing to remember is that curricula is not "one-size-fits-all". What works for one child may not work for another.

Knowing each of your children and understanding how they learn will help you make decisions about what may or may not work. There are several books available from your library about different learning styles and teaching methods. In the end, however, it is sometimes through trial and error that you will find the right fit for both you and your children.

Can I mix curricula and add my own stuff?

For many homeschoolers a "school-in-a-box" approach is the easiest way to go. It simplifies decision making, saves time, and can offer great peace of mind knowing that all the bases are covered. For others, however, the "school-in-a-box" approach is principle reason they are educating their children at home instead of a traditional school, where it's almost always one-size-fits-all. Children's interests, abilities, and learning styles can vary greatly. Mixing curriculum allows parents to embrace those differences and use what works best for each child, in each situation, and in every single subject.

Mixing curriculum is certainly not limited to textbooks, workbooks, or other traditional school materials. Parents can add in an assortment of hands-on activities, field trips, library books, and other experiences in order to enhance understanding and retention. This mix-and-match approach to homeschooling is referred to by some as eclectic homeschooling. Eclectic homeschooling requires more time and dedication from the homeschooling parent, but it can be a very rewarding way to provide a flexible, individualized education.

You Asked....Part 1

Note: A few weeks ago I asked for your questions about homeschool. This is the first post. I'll be answering one or two at a time, and hopefully will post once a day.

I wasn’t that good a student myself. Should I consider homeschooling?

I don't believe a parent's performance in school is necessarily an indicator of the level of success one could expect in homeschooling. A better indication might be the willingness of a loving parent to dedicate themselves to the task of homeschooling. For some parents, that dedication might mean that they are sometimes learning right alongside their children and for others it might mean finding other ways to compensate for their own inadequacies in certain subject matter.

My own experience has taught me that I can't be afraid to admit I don't know the answer. I must be willing to say to my kids, "I don't know this, let's figure it out together." And honestly, I think this is more valuable to my children than if I did always know the answers. They are learning that they can do this too; that they can read, research, and find answers on their own. This is definitely a skill that will serve them well.

I also have had to be open to learning with my kids, not just checking their papers with a teacher's manual, but really learning with them. They think it's pretty neat when Mom is learning something new at the same time they are.

Sometimes, however, certain subjects can be downright intimidating. This leads into the next question:

I’m good at most subjects but not at ________. What should I do about teaching that to my child?

Let's face it, we can't all be good at everything. It's a rare person who can excel in every single subject. Thankfully, as homeschooling has become more and more mainstream the supply of resources has become increasingly abundant. Any level of help a parent might need is available through an assortment of teacher's manuals, DVDs or computer based instruction. Coop classes are another valuable resource in the homeschool community. Parents proficient in a particular subject agree to teach a class and in return their children are able to benefit not just from that class, but from the classes other parents teach. This can work out really well in both larger and smaller homeschool groups. Parents also should remember that there may be family members or friends who may be experts or just very knowledgeable and able to provide assistance or insight.

A successful homeschool experience does not require mastery in all things, but it does demand dedication, patience, and a willingness to recognize when you need help.

Ma is sick!

Art by Gavin

I have been sick this week, as the above illustration would indicate. Our home was afflicted with strep throat, the flu, and an upper respiratory infection and I was blessed to aquire all three--simultaneously. Ben had the strep throat, Luci had the upper respiratory stuff. Fortunately, Brian and Gavin have so far remained germ-free and have done a great job taking care of things while I've been down.

Gardener Gavin

Gavin has been talking about gardening since early last spring. One of the neighbors gave him a clipping of a plant that she was tending and he brought it home and put it in an empty flower pot. A little TLC and some water and he was able to grow his own plant. Since then he has amassed seven plants that he tends in pots on the front porch. He planted a sweet potato and a white potato sometime during the summer and eventually harvested a couple of small potatoes from it. In the midst of this he acquired a book on gardening from his Gramps and has been studying and planning his vegetable garden ever since. We promised that if his interest was still strong come spring he could grow vegetables. This week his vision is becoming a reality. He is doing container gardening for a few reasons, some of which have to do with space, the huge amount of clay in the soil of central MS, and the tendency for our yard to become a soggy swamp certain times of the year. No seeds have hit the soil just yet since we still expect another freeze, but his beds are ready after some hard work. He will be planting seeds for green beans, lettuce, bell pepper, and cucumber. He also will be putting down some tomato plants but he will get those already started.